2024 Organize & Declutter

[debthaven]

TheO when our DD moved to the Alps and she was renting, she used to take her cat out on a leash.

The owners were very elderly and they’d let DD’s cat escape. DD was distraught. She ended up buying her cat a GPS tag and paying a tracking subscription.

DH famously suggested that it would be cheaper to buy the cat a phone. 😂

DD and her cat have been together in her new apartment for nearly two years. ❤️

[debthaven]

I’m sorry Theo. I’d ask them for a recommendation.

[TheOtherMe]

Jul 30, 2024 17:47:19 GMT -5 debthaven said:

I’m sorry Theo. I’d ask them for a recommendation.

I did.  No response.  

I asked the one with the injured son if there is a Go Fund Me.  It is being set up now.  I will make a small contribution because I like her and now she can't work through no fault of her own.

[finnime]

Sorry about your cleaner, TheOtherMe.

[finnime]

I've encountered a young woman, a physician, on the beach a few mornings with her two leashed dogs and one unleashed cat. They all walk together down the beach then sit on the jetty and watch the sun rise. Nice person and pets, too. Franklin the Dog is eager to meet the cat so I need to hold tightly to his leash.

[TheOtherMe]

I have found a cleaner that I am going to try.  

Several would not agree to my masking requirement.  Fine.  I don't hire you.  It's my house and you play by my rules.  Especially the person who said Covid isn't real.  

[startsmart]

July was the longest month! My new job had its grant cycle open for applications so I was trying to manage 9 committee members and what ended up being 30 applicants. I’m exhausted!

Tomorrow starts our grant rating and I’ve got to plan the awards ceremony too.

I’ve been trying to decide what to do for my birthday this year and I’m sorta stuck. 2 days after my bday is a conference I have to attend in Kansas and I’m just not excited about any of my affordable options. So I’m having a pre birthday pity party 😂

[Opti]

Jul 31, 2024 8:45:28 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I have found a cleaner that I am going to try.  

Several would not agree to my masking requirement.  Fine.  I don't hire you.  It's my house and you play by my rules.  Especially the person who said Covid isn't real.  

At least you eliminated the person who said Covid isn't real from being in your home. I hope the cleaner ends up being one that suits you.

[Opti]

Jul 31, 2024 6:53:48 GMT -5 finnime said:

I've encountered a young woman, a physician, on the beach a few mornings with her two leashed dogs and one unleashed cat. They all walk together down the beach then sit on the jetty and watch the sun rise. Nice person and pets, too. Franklin the Dog is eager to meet the cat so I need to hold tightly to his leash.

Meet the cat as in curious or meet the cat as in chase?

[finnime]

Aug 1, 2024 1:22:57 GMT -5 Opti said:

Jul 31, 2024 6:53:48 GMT -5 finnime said:

I've encountered a young woman, a physician, on the beach a few mornings with her two leashed dogs and one unleashed cat. They all walk together down the beach then sit on the jetty and watch the sun rise. Nice person and pets, too. Franklin the Dog is eager to meet the cat so I need to hold tightly to his leash.

Meet the cat as in curious or meet the cat as in chase?

Curiousity is the main driver, but I'm sure he'd be good with a chase.

[moneysquirrel]

Good morning all!
I got the inventory done yesterday and unloaded the dishwasher this morning.  Also updated the budget.  Will try to get back to that bracelet project later today and pick out the beads needed for the unicorn. Other than those just the usual maintaining of areas.  Managed to throw out a few items yesterday -- not as many as I wanted but every item helps.

Keep up the good work ladies.  

[soupandstew]

I'm feeling a tad old and out-of-touch.  I downloaded the Decluttr.com app, set up an account, and tried scanning my cd's.  They didn't want any of them    Oh well, I'll offer them for free on the local Buy/Barter/Steal FB page and see what happens

ETA:  Their website says you have to enter a 13-digit code from the back; my cd's only have 12 digits 

[Iggy aka IG]

Jul 31, 2024 6:53:48 GMT -5 finnime said:

I've encountered a young woman, a physician, on the beach a few mornings with her two leashed dogs and one unleashed cat. They all walk together down the beach then sit on the jetty and watch the sun rise. Nice person and pets, too. Franklin the Dog is eager to meet the cat so I need to hold tightly to his leash.

What a great visual.  Thank you for sharing this, finnime.  

LOL at DH suggesting the cat phone debthaven.

Sorry about your cleaner TheOtherMe.  How kind of you to donate to the GFM account.

Because ours are garage/outdoor kittens and love climbing trees, we won't put collars on them.  When we walk the exterior of the house, they still stick close to it rather than follow me down the open pathway.  Which I get because of predators, etc.  I am having so much fun with them!  I am a dog person but won't get one until retirement.  Cats are so much easier.  Or so I've been told.  

soupandstew sorry they didn't want any of your CDs.  Was it Decluttr that asked for 15 digits?

startsmart that's a lot of applications!

Good to see you, moneysquirrel.

This weekend:  The usual chores, go through the numerous free totes of Halloween decorations given to me months ago, and a sleepover with the neighbor kiddos.  

[Sharon]

Just a quick check in.  I've had the tree service out for the past two days.  My yard looks radically different.  They removed at least 9 trees and a multitude of dead bushes.  I wish the irrigation guy would show up so I could have regular watering of the yard.  While I can now run sprinklers it is dependent upon me to set them up and move them etc.

I did get a good deal on part of the tree project.  I've had 3 large trees in the front yard that were leaning and I figured it was only a matter of time before they blew over.  The tree guys confirmed that.  Thursday afternoon they came to me and said that the Friday job had to move to Monday because the owners were going to be out of town and since their equipment was already at my house how would I feel about removing those 3 trees for $500 a piece.  I couldn't sign up quick enough.  That is a real bargain.  It didn't include stump grinding but that will happen at a later date.

The tree guys did discover when trimming branches off of my shop roof that they had lifted the nails on the shop roof and I now need to get a roofer out and get the metal on that one side of the shop nailed back down before the wind peels off my shop roof.

It never ends

[jerseygirl]

Good job getting the $500 for each tree!

[Opti]

Aug 1, 2024 15:37:02 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

I'm feeling a tad old and out-of-touch.  I downloaded the Decluttr.com app, set up an account, and tried scanning my cd's.  They didn't want any of them    Oh well, I'll offer them for free on the local Buy/Barter/Steal FB page and see what happens

ETA:  Their website says you have to enter a 13-digit code from the back; my cd's only have 12 digits 

Mine might be too out of date too then. I'll let you know if I give it a try for a few CDs and DVDs.

[soupandstew]

Aug 3, 2024 18:46:52 GMT -5 Opti said:

Aug 1, 2024 15:37:02 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

I'm feeling a tad old and out-of-touch.  I downloaded the Decluttr.com app, set up an account, and tried scanning my cd's.  They didn't want any of them    Oh well, I'll offer them for free on the local Buy/Barter/Steal FB page and see what happens

ETA:  Their website says you have to enter a 13-digit code from the back; my cd's only have 12 digits 

Mine might be too out of date too then. I'll let you know if I give it a try for a few CDs and DVDs.

I was surprised because most of the artists on mine are still alive  I had recent Willy Nelson, early Diana Krall and Bob Seger, Yo Yo Ma, and all sorts of good stuff.  

[soupandstew]

Sharon It truly never ends, but you got a great deal on the tree removal

[snapdragon]

Was out in the yard today. Got alot done. 

I found that there are several bags of dirt that were under a tarp I just realized was kinda hidden by the trees. 

Another trash bag was taken out by the bears on garbage day. So I had to clean up the broken bags. 

I even took lopped branches to green waste yesterday. 

[NastyWoman]

I finally did it. I loaded all the donation stuff in my car and dropped it off at Goodwill: 10 bags of various items plus a box of glassware.

I'm still in my declutter slump but whenever I see something that I don't want anymore I park it on the guest bed or on the floor in that room to deal with later. Well DS2 and family will be here in a few weeks so that bed will be needed. Nothing like a bit of pressure to get things done. Decluttering will start up again come October once all my summer guests will have left and the temperature is cooperating again.

[Opti]

Aug 3, 2024 18:53:08 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Aug 3, 2024 18:46:52 GMT -5 Opti said:

Mine might be too out of date too then. I'll let you know if I give it a try for a few CDs and DVDs.

I was surprised because most of the artists on mine are still alive  I had recent Willy Nelson, early Diana Krall and Bob Seger, Yo Yo Ma, and all sorts of good stuff.  

What Yo Yo Ma did you have? (I'm a cellist)

[finnime]

Very thoroughly cleaned the refrigerator yesterday, finally. I'm glad it's done. I threw out everything that was past its prime and DH didn't care for and scrubbed the shelves, drawers and sides. Now it all looks quite appetizing.

I've decluttered and wiped out the refrigerator with some regularity but this time I was ruthless.

[soupandstew]

Aug 4, 2024 20:17:59 GMT -5 Opti said:

Aug 3, 2024 18:53:08 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

I was surprised because most of the artists on mine are still alive  I had recent Willy Nelson, early Diana Krall and Bob Seger, Yo Yo Ma, and all sorts of good stuff.  

What Yo Yo Ma did you have? (I'm a cellist)

Songs from the Arc of Life

[soupandstew]

Aug 5, 2024 5:31:39 GMT -5 finnime said:

Very thoroughly cleaned the refrigerator yesterday, finally. I'm glad it's done. I threw out everything that was past it's prime and DH didn't care for and scrubbed the shelves, drawers and sides. Now it all looks quite appetizing.

I've decluttered and wiped out the refrigerator with some regularity but this time I was ruthless.

I did that last week and it was surprisingly satisfying.  My fridge seemed bigger in an odd sense

[Iggy aka IG]

I completed the 3 to-do's I mentioned last Friday.  Too many loads of laundry, the Halloween decorations have been moved from the garage to the basement, and the sleepover with the boys was a success.  They already wanted another one this Friday.  

The kittens are doing well.  Because of dust, DH moved a lot of things around in the garage, swept and mopped the floor and power washed all of the area rugs.  I put a clean, older towel on DH's desk chair upon which kitten one lays.  All three kittens' eyes were gently cleaned with a warm, damp washcloth.  This dog person never thought she'd be a kitten mom.  They sure bring joy.

Organizing:  Since I didn't sell our rarely used Hamilton Beach coffee maker, I added it to our coffee counter in order to make a pot of iced coffee at a time.  One pot makes 5 servings for the workweek.  I love takeout iced coffee, but my budget doesn't allow for it.

[Iggy aka IG]

Happy Friday!  Where is everyone?  

[jerseygirl]

Aug 9, 2024 12:20:51 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Happy Friday!  Where is everyone?  

Thinking about (but not doing) organizing!

[Opti]

Storm Debby is currently blowing through NJ, PA, and DE among other places. Its a be careful and stay inside if you can kind of day.

I think I will start posting my numerous to do lists here along with the small bits of decluttering I get done along the way.

Call doctor's office and set up hopefully a virtual appointment for my disability care plan
Apply for assistance with gas and electric bill
find some sort of funding to pay my rent
get more clarification on dad's IRA (will not call this weekend always get the soft talking guy who barely helpful)

Return socks via FedEx, not sure if post office person can take or I have to pick a time I am strong enough to rollate to the pharmacy that can scan it and it will probably go out MOnday.

Oh setup the TJX online stuff and get that bill paid or scheduled in the next couple days.
Mushrooms are growing in the lawn near me, wonder if those oranges ones popped up by the laundry room
but better not walk that far today.

Happy and safe weekend to you all.
BOA sent soliciting snail mail to me and to the former resident who never changed her address.
I guess they are seeing if they can hook older folks for fun and profit. Think I need to take a small nap and get clarity on who I should call b4 COB today. And do some online stuff later if my brain and the power cooperates.

[Opti]

Arggghhhh

The complex I am renting in wants updated renter's insurance info. Will be brutal to upload that in my current circumstance. Just more and more crap. Earlier in the day the leasing/other stuff agent confirmed there is no way to just pay the new rent in the rental agreement. We have to pay the fee to the processing/rental website thing or even more money if we use a check or money order. No cash because they have done away with someone in the office. Our manager works remotely unless showing an apartment.

Looks like I won't get my carbon monoxide detector fixed until Monday. AT least M did put in a request to snake/fix the big drain outside my basement storage area. It floods all the time as does our basement storage. Its why I have so much stuff living up my stairs which is a big risk now that my knee etc. is in questionable shape.

[Iggy aka IG]

Aug 9, 2024 12:40:11 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Aug 9, 2024 12:20:51 GMT -5 Iggy aka IG said:

Happy Friday!  Where is everyone?  

Thinking about (but not doing) organizing!